South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers announced on Thursday that Oliver “Buddy” Pough, the school’s winningest head football coach, will serve as the interim director of athletics while the university searches for a new permanent leader. 

Pough succeeds Dr. Nathan Cochran, who recently left SC State to pursue other opportunities after being appointed as vice president and director of athletics in December 2023. In his announcement, Conyers thanked Cochran for his contributions during his tenure. 

“On behalf of the Bulldog family, I thank Dr. Cochran for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Conyers said.

A two-time graduate of SC State, Pough brings over twenty years of coaching experience to his new role. He led the Bulldog football program for 22 years. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs captured three outright MEAC championships, shared five additional titles, and made four appearances in the FCS playoffs.

Pough’s coaching accolades include 15 winning seasons, three MEAC Coach of the Year awards, and two National Coach of the Year honors, solidifying his status among the top coaches in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the broader HBCU community.

Pough Before SC State

Before becoming head coach at South Carolina State University in 2002, Oliver “Buddy” Pough served five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina, where he helped the Gamecocks become a top offensive team and reach the Outback Bowl twice. Prior to his time at USC, he gained recognition as a high school coach in South Carolina, leading Fairfield-Central to a perfect 15-0 record and winning the Class AAA state title in 1996, earning three SCHSL Coach-of-the-Year honors throughout his career.

He briefly served as SC State‘s interim athletics director in late 2023 and is expected to guide Bulldog athletics through this transitional period until a permanent replacement is appointed.